This Week in Worship

Sunday, May 31, 2015 @ 10:30 am in the Meetinghouse

“How would thinking that the people who come to your church stay active for ten years rather than for a life time affect how you do church?”

A friend who is a church consultant asked me that question recently and I have been thinking about it. It used to be the case that in most urban congregation’s people only stay for ten years or less before having to move, while in suburban and rural areas congregations could count on generations of families to be around. Today however, people’s time in one area, never mind in one religious community, is much more fluid. The difference means that churches today need to quickly get people up to speed on how the church works, what we believe, what is expected as members. Older models of church assumed that Mr. X will take care of the pot-luck because he always has, or that Ms. Y will get the front yard looking just so. No need for classes on membership because we assume that people will eventually just get how church works after coming to church for a few years.

So how would you think about First Parish, if you knew that within ten years there may be a whole new crop of people here? How would you educate them about who this church is, what happens here and most importantly how would you communicate our values to these folks? With the very idea of church transforming around us how open you are to that change will mean a great deal for the future of this liberal religious community.

I’ll see you in church.

Hank

Ps. In other news we received a very nice note of greeting from Elaine Martin who had been a member here in the 1980s when her then husband Patrick Green was minister.

The Worship theme for May is Transcendence

May 31 Acquaint Thyself

Ralph Waldo Emerson’s famous Divinity School Address made 175 years ago set the American religious world on its ear, with his idea that we should get to know God ourselves. Why did this idea that is now at the center of our faith scare so many?

We will also be recognizing those who completed of the Our Whole Lives curriculum.

REMEMBER NEXT SUNDAY, JUNE 7 IS UNION SUNDAY

WORSHIP SERVICE AT 10 AM AT FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF MILTON AT 495 CANTON AVENUE.

RELIGIOUS EXPLORATION AT 10 AM AT FIRST PARISH

SOCIAL HOUR AFTER WORSHIP AT FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

Religious Exploration

Sunday, May 31, 2015

• Spirit Play Pre K-1st grade go straight to their class room, down stairs in the activities room.
• SGM 3rd – 6th Graders will begin in the Meetinghouse before being dismissed to their Religious Education class.
• Passages 2nd graders will meet in their classroom.
• Youth Chat will meet in the youth room.
• The Nursery is available for children ages 4 and younger.

Only 1 more classes left in the formal church year!

June 7th ia our last class and we will end RE with Children’s Sunday on June 14th.

June 7th is Union Sunday, a time when First Parish and First Congregational Church come together to worship. Worship will be held at First Congregational Church of Milton, 495 Canton Ave. Just next door and their service starts at 10am.

We will have RE Class at First Parish starting at 10am, please drop your children off at the Parish Hall before going next door.

Register for Religious Exploration 2015 – 2016

Starting June 7th registration will be open for 2015-16. A table will be set up in the Parish Hall. Please stop by, take a look at the schedule for 2015 – 2016, register your child, ask questions and get involved!

A list of volunteer opportunities will also be available. Please remember it takes a village to run a successful RE program. Ask us how you can help! Please contact Lisa White, RE Chair or Miriam Saavedra, Religious Educator with any questions.

News and Announcements

Friday, May 29 6:30 pm – All Church Council

The Parish Committee invites Committee Chairs and members to the All Church Council. We would love to see all committees represented by their chair and at least one other member. If you got more curious about what is happening at First Parish at the Annual Meeting, this is a wonderful opportunity to learn more and be with like minded people. Light dinner will be available.

“Choose or Be Chosen” Returns to First Parish

Friends: As you know, this past year has been a year of big changes for First Parish. Our efforts to keep a regular slate of ushers, Social Hour sponsors and flower-providers has had mixed success. To keep these important aspects of life running smoothly, the Worship Committee, in conjunction with the Hospitality Committee and the Flower Committee has decided to return to our earlier model of commitment and volunteering: Choose or Be Chosen.

Starting this Sunday, there will sheets for signing up that will include Sundays for our next worship year which beginnings in September. If every able member signs up for at least one Sunday of ushering, one Sunday of Social Hour and one Sunday of flowers, our next year will run much more smoothly. Sign-ups will continue through the end of May. Any spots not filled by that date will then be “drawn” by members of each committee and the entire calendar will be posted.

We are excited to bring this back to First Parish. If you have any questions, please speak with Leslie MacPherson Artinian or any member of the Worship Committee. Thank you all for everything you do.

Sign Up Genius is available to use for dates between May 2015 and June 2016

Reminder – Pledges for 2014-2015 fiscal year are due by June 30, 2015

Kiki’s Corner

Life at First Parish does not stop after the annual meeting and during the summer months, although the pace of things may be different. In late June, July and August, we are more focused on select projects. It is a good opportunity to get some builidng projects done. We are currently looking at having the rest of the parking lots paved and updating our heating system. We are already setting calendars for worship, religious exploration and community building events and adding committee meeting schedules. So what might be on your church to do list? Here are some thoughts:

1. Express your gratitude to those that have served in lay leadership this year. They have done a good job of keeping things moving along during this first year.

2. Register your child/youth for Religious Exploration program next year.

3. Sign up to usher, bring flowers, or be one of the social hour hosts for next year.

4. Attend Flower Communion Service and Church Picnic (June 21)

5. Send updated phone, email and address information to me so the directory will be as up-to-date as possible.

6. Attend summer services. They will be held in the Parish Hall each Sunday from the end of June through Labor Day. We hope to publish a worship schedule by the end of June

7. Find your lost items before the end of July.

STAY CONNECTED

Follow First Parish on Facebook and get updates, poems, announcements and more. You’ll be glad you did!

EVERY SUNDAY

Worship, 10:30am in the Meetinghouse

Silent Prayer & Meditation, 9:00am in the Children’s Church

THE SUNDAY PLANNER

Please consider volunteering for important Sunday worship positions like ushering, hosting social hour, providing flowers for worship, and lighting the chalice. Sign Up Here!